Collections Assistant IV

The Opportunity

Under the direction of the Head of Research Services, this position facilitates researcher access to RMC’s valuable and irreplaceable special collections materials and serves as the first point of contact for researchers. The position coordinates on-site research services, communicates policies and procedures, and conducts complex reference interviews to determine researcher needs. It also assists researchers with online systems and collaborates with staff to provide requested materials.

About The Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections

The Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections is Cornell’s principal repository for rare books, manuscripts, and archival materials spanning a wide range of disciplines. Its collections include more than 500,000 printed volumes, more than 80 million manuscripts, and approximately one million photographs, paintings, prints, and other visual media.

Key Responsibilities

Research Services Coordination

• Respond to a high volume of email and phone reference inquiries using broad general knowledge of RMC’s collections.
• Perform complex subject searches using specialized databases and a variety of print and electronic resources, which may require knowledge of a second language.
• Coordinate reading room appointment services and communicate with researchers to confirm appointments and review requests.
• Assist researchers with online catalogs, finding aids, and request systems.
• Work closely with staff to ensure timely delivery of materials for research appointments.
• Assign reference queries and restriction reviews to appropriate subject specialists and provide researchers with defined initial responses.
• Compose and maintain template responses for staff responding to reference questions.
• Collaborate with the Head of Research Services to assess services, make policy recommendations, and streamline operating procedures for onsite research services.

Research Assistance

• Monitor and assist researchers using collection materials while ensuring reading room policies and security procedures are consistently followed.
• Alert appropriate staff to potential security issues involving valuable, rare, and unique materials.
• Interpret public services and security policies for students, faculty, visiting scholars, and the general public.

What We Need

For further consideration, please submit a resume and cover letter.

• Bachelor’s degree and up to 2 years of relevant experience or equivalent combination.
• Strong commitment to providing user-centered research services.
• Ability to work independently and to set priorities, meet deadlines, and respond to fluctuating workloads.
• Ability to effectively communicate and enforce policies and procedures with colleagues and researchers.
• Ability to perform detailed work with a high degree of accuracy.
• Excellent time management skills, organization skills, and communication skills.
• Demonstrated computer skills (standard office software packages, database searching, basic file manipulation).
• Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members.

If you have all those things, great! We have a few more things that we would prefer you to have, but it’s ok if you don’t.

• Experience in a special collections library, academic library, museum, archives, or historical society.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office, LibAnswers and Aeon.

This is a full-time (39 hours/week) position that is based in Ithaca, NY and fully on-site. Core hours are Monday to Friday, 8am to 4:30pm. The final schedule will be established in collaboration with the supervisor.

Rewards and Benefits

• Cornell receives national recognition as an award-winning workplace for our health, wellbeing, and sustainability.

• Our benefits programs include comprehensive health care options, generous retirement contributions, access to wellness programs, and employee discounts with local and national retail brands. We invite you to follow this link to get more information about our benefits: Understand Your Benefits | Working at Cornell.

• Our leave provisions include health and personal leave, three weeks of vacation and 13 holidays: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, and an end of the year winter break from December 25-January 1. To offer greater flexibility for observing faiths and traditions we also offer two additional floating holidays. Learn more about our generous leave provisions: Holiday and Accrued Time Off | Working at Cornell

• Cornell's impressive educational benefits include tuition-free Extramural Study and Employee Degree Program, tuition aid for external education, and Cornell Children's Tuition Assistance Program. Learn more about our extensive educational benefits: Education Benefits | Working at Cornell

• Follow this link to learn more about the Total Rewards of Working at Cornell Total Rewards | Working at Cornell.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

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